Back in the 1960s and 1970s, when people were less likely to be cry-babies or desperate to be offended, the governments of the day produced what became known as public information films.

They covered anything from following the Country Code, to calling out the Coastguard and even what would become known as ‘stranger danger’.

A central character to some of those films, was Charlie. A loveable cat who would always look-out for the little boy of the family with whom he lived. Being a cat, non of the TV viewers could understand a word he said, but the little boy would translate for us to get Charlie’s message across.

Of course there were other characters such as Joe and Petunia.

It’s funny how those messages received early in life still stick in the minds of people of a certain age.